Late last month, the U.S. National Park Service invited its visitors to “please refrain from licking” the toads that populate its parks. Though the invitation surely applied to toads of all shapes, sizes and species, it specifically singled out the Sonoran Desert toad, a large, leathery amphibian famous for secreting a special, super-toxic substance if frightened.
In addition to its toxicity, this poison, commonly called “Five” or “Bufo,” also possesses intense psychoactive properties if scraped from the toads’ skin and smoked. Apparently, the visions and sensations produced through this process are so strong and pleasant that people are starting to opt out of scraping and smoking and are going straight to the source, instead.
Though it isn’t clear whether touching tongue to toad produces the same sort or strength of trip as the traditional method of inhalation, these individuals’ interest in toad licking is part and parcel of a much larger phenomenon, not only for our own species.
